12 June,2021

Daffodil International University, Dhaka, Bangladesh

www.daffodilvarsity.edu.bd

A Review on the Earthquake probability from Dauki fault in Bangladesh

Afrahim Chowdhury Fashol(ID:201-47-393), Md Rashidul Hasan Rafsan (201-47-394)

1*
Student, Department of civil engineering, Daffodil International University, <afrahim47-393@diu.edu.bd>
2*
Student, Department of civil engineering, Daffodil International University, <mohammad47-
394@diu.edu.bd >

*Corresponding Author

Abstract

The Dauki fault is a major fault along the southern boundary of the Shilong Plateau that may be a source of destructive seismic
hazards for the adjoining areas, including northeastern Bangladesh. The fault, inferred to go through the southern margin of the
Shillong Plateau, is an east–west-trending reverse fault inclined towards the north.
Marking the southern margins of Shillong Plateau (which is much steeper than the northern slope at about a height of 1500 m),
the prominent East-West Dauki Fault System (5–6 km wide) is the most remarkable feature of the Plateau. This fault zone
forms a sharp escarpment along the southern edge of the plateau. The steep escarpment indicates vertical displacement along
the Dauki Fault Zone where the Bangladesh plains subside actively. Though the Dauki Fault Zone is shown as a single fault
line on the geological map of Bangladesh (1990) but the images show that it is the combination of a number of en-echelon
faults trending in different directions, making the fault scraps zigzag rather than a straight line.Spread between the block
faulted palaeogene sediments of the Northern Foreland Shelf and the block faulted Piedmont deposits of Ploi-Pleistocene age
of the Garo hills , the Dauki Fault is a structural unit of considerable regional importance. The northeastern part of the
experiences strong seismicity believed to be caused by the Dauki Fault System.

Introduction

Dauki Fault Line is a major fault along the southern boundary of the Shillong Plateau that may be a source of destructive
seismic hazards for the adjoining areas, including in northeastern Bangladesh.Dauki Fault Line is a 300km fault line stretching
from south of the Shillong Plateau, highland region in eastern Meghalaya state of northeastern India, to the northern border of
Mymensingh and Sylhet divisions.
Figure 1.1: Dauki Fault zone

Risk in Bangladesh
Prof Humayun said, "These mild tremors may be a sign of the strain energy can be released through small tremors like the
a major earthquake as the fault line has the strain energy to ones Sylhet experiencing."
cause a 7.5-8.5 magnitude earthquakes. On the other hand,

A paleo-seismological study was conducted at Jaflong, Sylhet, Bangladesh, which is on the eastern part of the Dauki fault.
The geomorphology around Jaflong is divided into the Shillong Plateau, the foothills, the lower terraces, and the alluvial
plain from north to south. Because the foothills and lower terraces are considered to be uplifted tectonically, an active fault
is inferred to the south of the lower terraces. This fault, which branches from the Dauki fault as a foreland migration, is
known as the Jaflong fault in this paper .

The trench investigation was conducted at the

southern edge of the lower terrace. The angular
unconformity accompanied by folding, which is
thought to be the top of the growth strata, was
identified in the trench. An asymmetric anticline with
a steep southern limb and gentle northern limb is
inferred from the back-tilted lower terrace and the
folding of the gravel layer parallel to the lower terrace
surface. The timing of the seismic event which
formed the folding and unconformity is dated to
between AD 840 and 920.

The trench investigation at Gabrakhari, on the western part of the Dauki fault, revealed that the Dauki fault ruptured in AD
1548 (Morino et al., 2011). Because the 1897 great Indian earthquake (M ⩾ 8.0; Yeats et al., 1997) was caused by the
rupture of the Dauki fault (Oldham, 1899), it is clear that the Dauki fault has ruptured three times in the past one thousand
years. The timing of these seismic events coincides with that of the paleo-liquefactions confirmed on the Shillong Plateau. It
is essential for the paleo-seismological study of the Dauki fault to determine the surface ruptures of the 1897 earthquake.
The Dauki fault might be divided into four rupture segments, the western, central, eastern, and easternmost segments. The
eastern and western segments ruptured in AD 840–920 and in 1548, respectively. The 1897 earthquake might have been
caused by the rupture of the central segment.
What can be to mitigate the losses?
Earthquakes induced by human activity have been documented at many locations in the United States and in many other
countries around the world. Earthquakes can be induced by a wide range of causes including impoundment of reservoirs,
surface and underground mining, withdrawal of fluids and gas from the subsurface, and injection of fluids into underground
formations. While most induced earthquakes are small and present little hazard, larger and potentially damaging manmade
earthquakes have occurred in the past.

The hazard posed by manmade earthquakes can be mitigated by minimizing or in some cases stopping the activity that is
causing the earthquakes to occur. For example, earthquakes linked to wastewater disposal in deep wells in Colorado, Ohio
and Arkansas stopped occurring after injection was halted.

We cannot prevent natural earthquakes from occurring but we can significantly mitigate their effects by identifying hazards,
building safer structures, and providing education on earthquake safety. By preparing for natural earthquakes we can also
reduce the risk from human induced earthquakes.

Conclusion
Bangladesh is situated at high risk zone for earthquake and an unprecedented human disaster may occur in the country
anytime for even a moderate to heavy tremor. It is apparent that the preparedness to face a major earth quake in Bangladesh
is very poor. This is because of lack of coordination among various agencies like ministry of finance, health, food and
disaster management, housing and NGO’s. More over there is little awareness among the people on how to face such
calamities. Lack of support facilities like improved fire brigade and civil defence activities, establishment of
multidisciplinary hospital to accommodate large number of earthquake victims, physical and mental support,
communication by ambulances, transport vehicles, adequate number of drilling equipment, bulldozers etc. So it is obvious
that if a major earthquake hits Bangladesh it will create havoc and damage in terms of life, properties that is unimaginable.

References:

1. Md Shofiqul Islam, The Dauki fault at the Shillong plateau-bengal basin boundary in northeastern India: 2D
finite element modeling, Journal of Earth Science
2. Morino, Michio; Maksud Kamal, A.S.M; Muslim, Dicky; Ekram Ali, Reshad Md; Kamal, Mohammad
Ashraful; Zillur Rahman, Md; Kaneko, Fumio (2011), "Seismic event of the Dauki Fault in 16th century
confirmed by trench investigation at Gabrakhari Village, Haluaghat, Mymensingh, Bangladesh", Journal
of Asian Earth Sciences, 42 (3): 492, doi:10.1016/j.jseaes.2011.05.002
3. Banglapedia, Asiatic Society Bangladesh

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